Chapter 2

An elegantly scripted invitation arrived three days later, hand-delivered by a royal messenger. Amelia stared at the thick cream envelope, the royal crest embossed in gold on its surface.

"Another one?" her grandfather asked, watching her from his favorite armchair in the study.

"Yes." Amelia broke the seal carefully. "It's a dinner invitation. From the palace." Her stomach tightened as she read further. "For tonight."

Her grandfather's eyebrows rose. "Tonight? That's rather short notice. Very unlike Theodore I would have to say."

"It says Prince Niko has returned later than he had hoped from his trip and wishes to meet me before the formal events begin." Amelia's voice remained steady even as her heart thundered in her chest. "King Theodore requests our presence at seven." Amelia held herself back from snorting… Talk about late to the party. Niko was just turning up now, talk about bad manners.

"Then we shall attend," Edward replied simply, as if they were di